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The Museum’s Collections document the fate of Holocaust victims, survivors, rescuers, liberators, and others through artifacts, documents, photos, films, books, personal stories, and more. Search below to view digital records and find material that you can access at our library and at the Shapell Center.

Marcel S. Holocaust testimony (HVT-3230) interviewed by Henri Borlant

Oral History | Fortunoff Collection ID: HVT-3230

Videotape testimony of Marcel S., who was born in Boulogne-Billancourt, France in 1913, one of five children. He recalls his father's rabbinical career; becoming a rabbi (as did his younger brother), a dentist, and an engineer; his father's death in 1934; organizing boycotts of German goods; serving in the French army; July 1940 demobilization in Châteauroux; living in Lyon with his wife and son; termination of his job because he was Jewish; hiding; Maquis activities in Brénod; arrest with his wife in Lyon in August 1943; incarceration in Montluc prison; torture by Klaus Barbie; transfer with his wife to Drancy; deportation to Auschwitz in October 1943; transfer to Buna/Monowitz; slave labor; a privileged job as secretary in the infirmary; resistance organization within the camp; beatings resulting in permanent disability; group sabotage of the work; public hanging of his wife's cousin and escapees; learning his wife and brother had been killed; a death march to Gleiwitz in January 1945; transport in open train cars to Oranienburg; Czechs throwing them food from overpasses; transfer to Flossenbürg and Regensburg as punishment for helping other prisoners; his privileged position as a secretary leading to helping others; a death march to Dachau; liberation by United States troops; repatriation to Paris; reunion with his son; remarriage; and the births of two more children. Mr. S. discusses group relations in the camps; his passionate Jewish faith; sharing his experiences with his children; and visiting Auschwitz to convince the Carmelite nuns to relocate.

Learn about over 1,000 camps and ghettos in Volume I and II of this encyclopedia, which are available as a free PDF download. This reference provides text, photographs, charts, maps, and extensive indexes.